‘Indian agencies’ using WhatsApp to hack smartphones in Pakistan: reports

ISLAMABAD: Indian hackers are reportedly attempting to spy on Pakistani users by hacking their mobile phones through WhatsApp video calling feature, reports said.

The National Telecom and Information Technology Security Board (NTISB) has also issued an advisory warning against potential cell phone hack by Indian hackers and called for prevention of cyber espionage.

The advisory reads that the “hackers are taking advantage and sending false emails and messages to install malicious app in the garb of enabling WhatsApp video feature.”

NTISB has traced links of hackers and they originate from Mumbai, the capital city of India. Reports said the ‘hostile Indian agencies’ were now using the cyber space to target Pakistan.

‘Indian agencies’ using WhatsApp to hack smartphones in Pakistan: reports

The malware sent through WhatsApp video calling can capture all data of the mobile and transfer data to the hacker.

The users, in case of any such cyber attack on their cell phone, should immediately to reset to factory settings to neutralize the malware effect.

In November last year, Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications issued a web user advisory warning against a scam involving Whatsapp video calling.

It said “WhatsApp recently added fully encrypted video calling to its messaging app. However, scammers have exploited the rollout of the popular feature by circulating links inviting people to download it, in turn exposing personal details.

“By clicking the web link received through such an invite, the user is led to a legitimate looking process actually carried through a spoofed website carrying a malicious code. The process at the end asks the users to invite more friends which inevitably leads to further spread of the hack,” the press release read.

“Keeping in mind the popularity of WhatsApp with messaging users, it is important that Pakistani users are aware of this scam so they can take immediate measures to limit exposure to its data protection consequences” a Ministry of IT&T spokesperson was quoted as saying.